en.malanginspirasi.com – The Faculty of Agroindustrial and Biosystems Technology (FTAB) at Universitas Brawijaya (UB) is strengthening its international network by welcoming a delegation from Yunnan Minzu University, China.
This official visit to FTAB UB took place on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, marking the initial step in exploring academic cooperation.
It is specifically regarding postgraduate programs and opportunities for collaboration in publications, research, and community service.
The Yunnan Minzu University delegation was welcomed by the Dean of FTAB UB, Prof. Yusuf Hendrawan, STP., M.App.Life.Sc., Ph.D., in the FTAB meeting room on the 7th floor.
Also present were the Vice Dean, Heads of Departments, Coordinators of Master’s and Doctoral Study Programs, and FTAB UB faculty members. Representing Yunnan Minzu University were Dr. Yanbo Zeng, Dr. Chen Jia, Dr. Hu Dandan, and Ms. Tingting.
During the meeting, both parties discussed opportunities for concrete and sustainable collaboration.
The primary focus agreed upon was the development of postgraduate programs between FTAB UB and Yunnan Minzu University.
The discussion includes several cooperation schemes, including faculty and student exchanges allowing the academic communities of FTAB UB and Yunnan Minzu University to visit one another for short-term research, guest lectures, and fieldwork; and research and publication collaborations, with the expectation that research findings would be published in reputable international journals.
The topics proposed for this collaborative research include sustainable agroindustry, food innovation based on local resources, biodiversity utilization, and post-harvest technology.
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Yunnan is known for its ethnic diversity and traditional food products.
Meanwhile FTAB UB excels in tropical agro-industry research and strongly supports bio-AI, biorefineries, bioenergy, and the development of tubers and rhizomes.
Additionally, both institutions agreed to explore the possibility of dual-degree and “sandwich” programs for Master’s and Doctoral students.
“We welcome the initiative from Yunnan Minzu University. This partnership aligns perfectly with FTAB UB’s vision of becoming a world-class faculty. Strengthening our postgraduate programs through international collaboration will enhance the quality of our graduates and our research competitiveness,” said Prof. Yusuf Hendrawan.
Representatives from Yunnan Minzu University expressed their interest in the research being conducted at FTAB UB.
“We see many similarities regarding the wealth of biological resources in both Yunnan and Indonesia. Through this partnership, we hope to engage in joint research and faculty exchanges, and we are open to the possibility of developing a research-based curriculum in the future,” stated the representative from the Yunnan Minzu University delegation.
Discussions also touched upon opportunities for joint funding, such as bilateral research grant schemes and scholarship programs for postgraduate students.
Both parties agreed to form a working group to draft an action plan over the next three months.
As a follow-up step, FTAB UB and Yunnan Minzu University aim to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
This MoU will serve as the overarching framework, which will subsequently be detailed in specific Implementation Agreements covering postgraduate programs, exchanges, and research.
Through this partnership, FTAB UB hopes to provide broader access for Master’s and Doctoral students to experience an international academic environment.
Furthermore, the collaboration is expected to increase the number of international publications, patents, and innovations that deliver impact to both industry and society.
This visit by Yunnan Minzu University adds to FTAB UB’s growing list of international partners. FTAB UB has previously established collaborations with various universities in Japan, Australia, and Europe.
“Internationalization is not merely about the name; it is about producing competent graduates, conducting impactful research, and building mutually beneficial networks. The partnership with Yunnan Minzu University is a tangible manifestation of that commitment,” concluded Prof. Yusuf Hendrawan.
In addition to academic discussions, the delegation from Yunnan Minzu University had the opportunity to tour the integrated laboratory facilities and the Centers of Excellence (CoE) at FTAB UB, specifically the CoE for BioAI, the CoE for Bioenergy and Biorefinery, and the CoE for Tubers and Rhizomes.
Through this initiative, FTAB UB continues to actively build global partnerships to support the achievement of the SDGs and strengthen the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi).
